Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-15

command 6iyIsioos and armies Isit n bs
s,,,,,,ossd that CrowmeiI, King william th.
iii washington, or Napoleon could have
.uccseded IN the revolutions With which
shsiy names are identified, had they sub
mj,fed 10 the will aud authority ~ a p)lI-
ticlsn as Lee did to Mr.. Davis.
pE7gScs or RICHMOND.
Lee was opposed 10 the fiual defence OF
Richmond that was urged upon bim for 20.
l,tIcaI. not military re SONS. IL was great
strategic error. General Grants large
army OF men was easily fed and its daily
losses easily recruited from q near base
whereas n ii bad been drawn far into the
interior after the little army with
which Lee endeiyored TO protect
Richmond its fighting strength would
have been largely reduced by the detach.
mepts required to gusrd long line OF
communications through hostile country.
II Is profitless, however, 10 speculate upon
what might have been, and the military
student must take these campaigns rs they
were c,rTied out. No fair estimitc Of Lee
as general en- be made by a simple con-
parlson OF what he achieved with that
which Napoleon, Wellington, or Won
Moltke accomplished unless due al
lovaBce Is MADE. for the difference
10 the nature OF the American armies,
and OF the armies commanded and en-.
countered by those great leaders. They
were ut the head OF perfecily.Osgsnized,
rhofoughly.trained, and well disciplined
troops; whilst Lees soldiers, though gal.
liant and daring 10 fault, lacked the mill.
tary cohesion and efficiency, tue trained
company leaders, and the educated staff
which are only to be found In a regular
army OF long standing. A trial heat be-
tween two jockeys mounted on unframed
horses may be interesting, but no one would
ever quote the performance rs an instance
OF great racing speed.
Who shall ever iathOm the depth OF Lees
anguish when the bitter end came. and
when. beaten down by stee: force OF num-
bers. ard by absolutely nothing else. he
found himself obliged to surrender? The
handful OF staryi1g men remaining with
him laid down their arms and the proud
Confederacy ceased 10 be. Surely the crush
ing, naddening anguish OF awful sorrow
IL Only known 10 the leader who has so
tailed 10 accomplish some lofty, some noble
aim for which be has long sLriycn with
might and main. with heart and sOul-in
the Interest OF king or OF country. A
smiling face, 4 cheerful manner, may con-
ccal the sore place from the eyes, possibly
even from the knowledge OF bis friends;
but there Is no healing for such a wound.
which eats into the very heart OF him who
has once received is.
General Lee survived the destruction OF
the COnftderacy for five years, when, at
q Ia. ct tvtv al IaH hu
his family. life eDbed slowly from him. |
Where else ia history IS a great man 10 be |
found whose whole life was one such |
blameless record Of duty nobly dOnep IL |
was consistent IN all it, parts, complete 10
all Its relations. The most perfect gentle |
man Of State long celebrated for It's chiy. |
airy. be was just, gentle, and generous,
aud child-like IN the simplicity Of his cbarac-
ter. Never elated with success, he bore
reverse, and at last, copplete overthrow,
with dlgniied resignation. Throughout |
this long and cruel struggle his was all the |
responsibility, but not the power that
should have accompanied it.
HIS CHARACTER.
The fierce light which beats upon the |
throne Is rs that OF a rushllght In cOmpiri |
son with the electric glare which our news
papers now focus upon the public man ia |
Lees position. His character has been sub |
iected 10 that ordeal, and who can point to |
any spot upon it? His clear, sound judg- |
ment, personal courage, untiring activity. |
genius for war, and absolute devotion TO !
his state mark him out rs public MIN, as |
a patriot TO be forever remembered |
BY all Americans. His amihblity Of |
deep sympathy with those |
in pain or sorrow, his love for chill. |
dreD, nice sense OF personal honor, and |
gtniel courtesy On cared him to all his |
friends. ] shall never forget his sw ,et, |
Winning smile nor his clear, honest eyes, |
that seemed to look into your .Ieart whilst |
they searched your brain. | have met |
many Of the great men OF my time, but Lee
alone impressed me with the feeling that |
was in the presence OF q man who was cast /
ina grauder mould and made OF different |
and OF finer metal than II other men. lie |
IL stamped upon my memory as being
apart and superior to all Others in every /
way-a man with whom none ever knew.
and yeIy few OF whom | have read, are
worthy to be classed. | baye met but two
men who realize my ideas OF what true
hero should be- nv friend Charles Gordon
was ore; General Lee was the other.
The following lines seem written for
him:
"a Who Is the honest mani
He who doth still and strongly good pursue,
To God. his country. and himself most true;
Who. when he comes 10 deal
With sick folk, women, those whom passions
sway,
Allows for this, and keeps his constant way
When all the angry feelings reused by Sc
resson are buried with those which existed
y / en- the Declaration Of Independence was
written, when Americans can review the
history OF their last great rebellion with
,alm imp1rtlaliiy, believe all will admit
bat General Lee lowered far above all men
)D either side in that struggle believe
be will be recorded not only rs the most
prominent figure OF the CoOfederacy, but
5 The great American OF the nineteenth
century, whose statue Is well worthy to
.iaRd Oh an equal pedestal with that OF
" ashngtop, aud whose memory l. equally
worthy to be eushrnod IT, the heats Of all
lis cCuniTymcn.